Meet our staff:
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Jeff Tatay Program Director Business Development & Marketing (DPDC) MA in Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming MFA in Creative Writing, University of Wyoming BA in English, Indiana University CF in International Studies, Indiana University (4 Years at LEAF & DPDC) Jeff was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, and studied English Literature, Spanish Language, and International Studies at Indiana University before moving to Laramie for graduate studies at the University of Wyoming's Creative Writing MFA Program and the Haub School of Environment & Natural Resources. During his time at UW, he taught English Composition, worked as a Public Relations and Marketing intern at UWyo Magazine, studied European Union environmental assessment practices in Canary Islands, Spain, and stayed at the Grand Teton National Park Research Station on an environmental writing fellowship where he completed his thesis in creative writing and systems science. Some of Jeff's past experiences include surfing Lake Michigan, working as editor of the IU South Bend literary journal, and leading creative writing workshops at a local elementary school in South Bend, IN. Hobbies : Backpacking, fishing, photography, hiking, snowboarding, filmmaking, and writing. Mackenzie Beagles
Assistant Director Classroom Teacher BA in Elementary Education, University of Wyoming Mackenzie is a 22-year-old who was raised in Casper, Wyoming. She recently completed her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at the University of Wyoming and has been working at LEAF since May of 2020. Mackenzie loves working at LEAF because of the positive working environment and the great children! One of her main focuses with the children is to support them in their social-emotional growth. One idea that most inspires Mackenzie’s classroom environment comes from Dr. Becky Bailey, the founder of Conscious Discipline (a social-emotional learning program), and it is “whatever we focus on, we get more of.” In her free time Mackenzie loves hiking, fly fishing, and spending time outside! She loves to go up in the Snowy Range Mountains any chance she gets! Ricquel Nedved
Classroom Teacher Ricquel was born in northern Iowa, where she lived on a small farm before moving to Wyoming at seven years old. Ever since she was a little girl, Ricquel loved immersing herself in stories and putting herself in other people’s shoes. Her passion for stories grew as she realized that they provide ways to understand the world through different lenses. In her free time, she enjoys fishing, painting, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family. Now a senior at the University of Wyoming, Ricquel studies English rhetoric and composition and the Spanish language. After graduating in May 2021, Ricquel plans to turn her Honors thesis into a full-length novel and dip her feet in several fields where she can help people develop and refine their own stories. Shae Ibarra
Classroom Teacher Shae is a 20-year-old junior at the University of Wyoming. She was born and raised in a small town here in Wyoming. Shae is currently studying Secondary Spanish Education with an ESL endorsement. Shae plans to stay and teach in Albany county after she receives her BA degree. Working at LEAF has helped Shae receive more real-life experience in the world of education before she gets started in her career. Shae enjoys working with the students at LEAF, she is always learning new things from them. In her free time, shae likes to explore the area and all it has to offer (she’s only been in Laramie since May). Shae also likes to study Psychology and Criminal Justice when she finds the time. |
